FRISCO, Texas – Five members of the Nicholls State University football team were named to the 2017 Preseason All-Southland Teams, the Southland Conference announced Thursday morning.
Offensive lineman
Chandler Arceneaux, defensive lineman
Sully Laiche and defensive back
Christian Boutte received first-team recognition, while linebacker
Allen Pittman and offensive lineman
Ryan Hanley were tabbed second team.
The head coaches of the Southland vote on the preseason teams. Arceneaux, Laiche and Pittman were automatic selections after earning all-league honors last season. Hanley and Boutte made the 2017 squad after being voting on by the coaches.
Nicholls upped its scoring average by 13 points from 2015 to last season, and the offensive line played a major role in the increased production. Anchoring the group at right tackle, Arceneaux's play did not go unnoticed in his redshirt sophomore campaign as he garnered All-Southland and All-Louisiana First Team. He also received a sophomore FCS All-American honor from HERO Sports.
A two-year starter, Hanley landed on second team after earning honorable mention All-Southland in his first two seasons. The Rummel High product has played in all 22 games since arriving to Thibodaux, logging starts in the last 19.
Three players represented the Colonels on defense, highlighted by returning first-teamer Laiche. As a true freshman, Laiche ranked 12th in the FCS with 9.5 sacks and finished second on the team in tackles with 60. He earned several awards in his rookie season as he was tabbed national, conference and state player of the week, as well as HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American.
Boutte was a key figure in the secondary, recording three interceptions and five pass breakups at cornerback. His three picks were the second most on the team as the defense led the SLC with 15 interceptions. The lone senior to be named preseason All-Southland for the Colonels, Boutte also chipped in with 25 tackles and returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown.
Following a redshirt season in 2015, Pittman not only led the team in tackles, but his 95 stops ranked fourth in the Southland. He finished in double figures in five games, which included the league's best single-game performance of 19 tackles against Central Arkansas.
The 2017 season will officially get underway on Thursday, July 20 with the annual Southland Conference Football Media Day. This year's event will be held at the Hilton Americas in Houston, Texas.
For the latest news on Colonel football, follow the team on Twitter @Nicholls_FB.
2017 Southland Football Preseason All-Conference Teams
First Team Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| QB |
Jeremiah Briscoe |
Sam Houston State |
6-3 |
225 |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| RB |
Corey Avery |
Sam Houston State |
5-10 |
195 |
Sr. |
Dallas, Texas |
| RB |
Julius Maracalin |
Southeastern Louisiana |
6-0 |
215 |
Jr. |
Plaquemine, La. |
| TE/HB |
Lawayne Ross |
McNeese |
6-0 |
255 |
So. |
Richwood, Texas |
| WR |
Yedidiah Louis |
Sam Houston State |
5-8 |
180 |
Sr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| WR |
Nathan Stewart |
Sam Houston State |
5-11 |
175 |
So. |
Dallas, Texas |
| WR |
Davion Davis |
Sam Houston State |
5-11 |
180 |
Jr. |
Hutto, Texas |
| OL |
Stockton Mallett |
Central Arkansas |
6-3 |
307 |
Sr. |
Harrison, Ark. |
| OL |
Chandler Arceneaux |
Nicholls |
6-4 |
260 |
RS-Jr. |
Bourg, La. |
| OL |
Tyler Tezeno |
Sam Houston State |
6-4 |
340 |
Sr. |
Spring, Texas |
| OL |
John Cook |
Central Arkansas |
6-4 |
319 |
Jr. |
Grenada, Miss. |
| OL |
Josh Keith |
Stephen F. Austin |
6-7 |
318 |
Sr. |
Katy, Texas |
| AP |
Kody Edwards |
UIW |
6-0 |
165 |
Sr. |
Mesquite, Texas |
| PK |
Nik Grau |
Abilene Christian |
6-1 |
230 |
Sr. |
Grapevine, Texas |
First Team Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| DL |
P.J. Hall |
Sam Houston State |
6-1 |
310 |
Sr. |
Seguin, Texas |
| DL |
Sully Laiche |
Nicholls |
6-2 |
255 |
So. |
Gramercy, La. |
| DL |
John Franklin |
Stephen F. Austin |
6-4 |
284 |
Sr. |
Greenville, Texas |
| DL |
Cardell Best |
Central Arkansas |
6-3 |
248 |
Sr. |
Little Elm, Texas |
| LB |
Garrett Dolan |
Houston Baptist |
6-2 |
240 |
Jr. |
Mont Belvieu, Texas |
| LB |
Sam Denmark |
Abilene Christian |
6-1 |
230 |
Sr. |
Las Cruces, N.M. |
| LB |
Justin Johnson |
Sam Houston State |
6-0 |
220 |
Jr. |
Converse, Texas |
| DB |
Tremon Smith |
Central Arkansas |
6-0 |
186 |
Sr. |
Anniston, Ala. |
| DB |
George Odum |
Central Arkansas |
6-2 |
190 |
Sr. |
Millington, Tenn. |
| DB |
Andre Fuller |
McNeese |
6-0 |
196 |
Sr. |
Monroe, La. |
| DB |
Jaylon Lofton |
Central Arkansas |
6-1 |
175 |
Sr. |
Forest, Miss. |
| DB |
Christian Boutte |
Nicholls |
6-0 |
190 |
Sr. |
Opelousas, La. |
| P |
Patrick Ponder |
Central Arkansas |
6-1 |
200 |
Sr. |
Bay St. Louis, Miss. |
| KR |
Jaylen Harris |
Sam Houston State |
5-7 |
155 |
So. |
Cibolo, Texas |
| PR |
Trae Hart |
Stephen F. Austin |
5-11 |
175 |
Sr. |
Mesquite, Texas |
Second Team Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| QB |
Hayden Hildebrand |
Central Arkansas |
6-3 |
196 |
Sr. |
Bossier City, La. |
| RB |
Remus Bulmer |
Sam Houston State |
5-7 |
185 |
Jr. |
Missouri City, Texas |
| RB |
Carlos Blackman |
Central Arkansas |
6-1 |
228 |
So. |
Gosnell, Ark. |
| TE/HB |
Kiki Hill |
Stephen F. Austin |
6-2 |
235 |
So. |
Goliad, Texas |
| WR |
Darious Crawley |
McNeese |
5-11 |
190 |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| WR |
Tamrick Pace |
Stephen F. Austin |
6-3 |
200 |
So. |
Brownsboro, Texas |
| WR |
Kent Shelby |
McNeese |
6-3 |
194 |
Sr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| OL |
Andy Dodd |
McNeese |
6-4 |
300 |
Gr. |
Lindale, Ga. |
| OL |
Mitchell Watanabe |
Sam Houston State |
6-4 |
330 |
Jr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| OL |
Gilberto Garcia |
Central Arkansas |
6-2 |
305 |
Sr. |
Morrilton, Ark. |
| OL |
Ryan Hanley |
Nicholls |
6-2 |
290 |
Jr. |
Metairie, La. |
| OL |
Travis Romero |
Southeastern Louisiana |
6-3 |
320 |
Sr. |
Manvel, Texas |
| AP |
Trae Hart |
Stephen F. Austin |
5-11 |
175 |
Sr. |
Mesquite, Texas |
| PK |
Alec Chadwick |
Houston Baptist |
6-2 |
162 |
Jr. |
Valencia, Calif. |
Second Team Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| DL |
Jammerio Gross-Whitaker |
McNeese |
6-3 |
240 |
Sr. |
Shreveport, La. |
| DL |
Lamont Alexander |
Stephen F. Austin |
6-3 |
305 |
Jr. |
Nolanville, Texas |
| DL |
Chris Terrell |
Central Arkansas |
6-3 |
248 |
So. |
Pensacola, Fla. |
| DL |
Chris Livings |
McNeese |
6-2 |
210 |
Jr. |
Lake Charles, La. |
| LB |
Allen Pittman |
Nicholls |
5-11 |
205 |
RS-So. |
St. Rose, La. |
| LB |
Sione Teuhema |
Southeastern Louisiana |
6-4 |
260 |
Sr. |
Keller, Texas |
| LB |
Cody Moncure |
Houston Baptist |
6-2 |
225 |
Sr. |
Richmond, Texas |
| DB |
Dominique Hill |
McNeese |
5-10 |
177 |
Sr. |
Mansfield, La. |
| DB |
Rodney Randle, Jr. |
Lamar |
5-10 |
179 |
Jr. |
Beaumont, Texas |
| DB |
Robert Hayes, Jr. |
UIW |
6-2 |
185 |
So. |
Slidell, La. |
| DB |
Max Lyons |
Southeastern Louisiana |
5-10 |
175 |
Sr. |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
| DB |
Derek Broussard |
Houston Baptist |
5-9 |
180 |
Sr. |
Beaumont, Texas |
| P |
Christian Guzman |
Houston Baptist |
5-11 |
185 |
Sr. |
Brookshire, Texas |
| KR |
Alize Ward |
Stephen F. Austin |
5-10 |
195 |
So. |
San Diego, Calif. |
| PR |
Tremon Smith |
Central Arkansas |
6-0 |
186 |
Sr. |
Anniston, Ala. |
